A friend sent me a link to this story last week and it’s really stayed with me - and I think given the horror and injustice of it, more people should know.
Warning: it’s very distressing.
It’s a historic case that began in the 80’s when a 21 year old woman who was sectioned in Cumbria to an NHS mental health inpatient unit after experiencing psychosis. During her time she was groomed and raped by a male nurse 14 years her senior. She became pregnant a year into her stay and the team at the hospital arranged a crisis abortion for her. it was never part of her mental health record and her family were not told. She did tell her mum everything when she was released, but her mum took no action and told no one - it seems at the time she thought things were best left alone (remember this is the 80’s attitudes were very different).
Three years later, whilst she was an inpatient in another mental health hospital, Alison committed suicide.
Her parents and siblings have spent the last 3 decades labouring for answers and justice. A lot of things have happened in that time but the essentials are that in 2001 the family asked the police to investigate the matter after uncovering evidence. But In 2002 the CPS decided not to take the case forward.
Alison’s family continued to fight and in 2015 the police reopened the investigation. More evidence was gathered, including witness statements from staff. In 2017, Alison’s rapist was questioned under caution and confessed to his crimes. He said, and I quote “I was unaware I was doing anything wrong”. ex-colleagues spoke to the police with one saying:
“It became apparent after a very short time that he was spending more time with Alison than any other patient. He had to be spoken with on more than one occasion regarding the time he spent with her. Concerns were raised and Alison was witnessed entering the Male nurse’s residence where he was living at the time....one meeting resulted in him being clearly told that his behaviour was inappropriate and the matter would be formally reported. Alison was a young female who was extremely ill and disturbed at the time. However, he continued.”
There were seemingly a lot of cover ups along the way - missing medical records, missing notes, plenty of other staff who knew including senior psychiatrists etc.
Despite the confession and supporting evidence the CPS decided not to prosecute. The family’s appeal was thrown out. Alison’s rapist has walked free. The NHS it seems have apologised to the family a couple of years ago - but no one has been held accountable for what happened to Alison.
My point in posting this here is to get word out and raise awareness that these things do happen in the trusted care of professionals. It may be a historical case but shows the poor culture of the NHS at the time and it’s important we never stop talking about these things.
The family have raised enough money and launched an appeal to have a new inquest into Alison’s death. They’re waiting on the outcome of that decision. The full story is here https://alisonsstory.wordpress.com/what-happened-in-2001/
I suppose there isn’t a lot more we can do except show support to Alison’s family and talk about these things in the vain hope people like Alison aren’t forgotten.